Cigarette dispenser



Aug. 16, 1949- E. G. GANTNER ET AL 2,479,340

CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed July 2, 1947 IHZEHZEJL-E EDWARD G. GANTNER.DAV/0 JANE-5.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 CIGARETTE DISPENS ER,

Edward G. Gantner and David James, Chicago,

Ill., assignors to Gantner Industries, Inc., Morton Grove, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application July 2, 1947, Serial No. 758,586

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a cigarette dispenser and more particularly toa device for mounting at accessible places in an automobile and the likefor dispensing a single cigarette at a time.

Former cigarette dispensers of this type of which we are aware, have notbeen sufliciently dependable. There has been too great a tendency eitherfor the cigarettes to jam or otherwise fail to be dispensed.

According to this invention there is provided a dispensing device whichis particularly constructed to avoid these difiiculties. Said device inone embodiment comprises a drawer adapted to slide into and out of ahousing with some friction. The drawer is provided with an inclinedfalse bottom which is slidable on: tongues carried by the rear of thedrawer. At the lower front of the false bottom is a cigarette receivingrecess which is adapted to expose a single cigarette without the drawerwhen said false bottom is pulled out. A catch is provided at the rear ofthe drawer to hold the false bottom in non-dispensing position.

The recessed false bottom portion is so formed as to engage the bottomof the drawer just prior to closure of the false bottom, so that theinclined false bottom is positively jarred to move another cigaretteinto the recesswhen the false bottom is in fully closed position.Furthermore the catch is so formed in relation to the false bottom as tofurther jar the false bottom, this time from the rear, so as to insurethat a cigarette will fall into the recess. A further agitation isachieved by virtue of the false bottom sliding under'the cigarettes tobe dispensed. r

The dispenser is so designed as to be capable of being economicallyformed from a few pieces of sheet material stamped intothe componentpart of the device. For loading of cigarettes it is merely necessary topull out the drawer from the housing and place the cigarettes upon thefalse bottom. To cleanse the drawer, it is simply removed from thehousing.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide acigarette dispenser which will positively dispense one cigarette onlyand will not jam or otherwise fail.-

It is a further important objectvof this invention to provide adispenser which may be economically stamped from a few pieces of sheetmaterial and easily assembled.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a dispenserwhich ma be easily refilled and readily cleansed.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a false bottomfor receiving a single cigarette which is positively refilled by jarringthe false bottom at the front and rear thereof, and by virtue of itsundermining action, all occurring automatically as the false bottom ispushed back into its housing.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

' Figure 1 is an isometric view of a cigarette dispenser embodying theprinciples of our invention in nondispensing position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the dispenser ofFigure 1 showing the dispenser in nondispensing position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the dispenser indispensing position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing dispenser false bottomin partially closed posiion;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the dispenser inposition for loading of cigarettes therein; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the lineVI-VI of Figure 2.

The reference numeral l0 designates generally a cigarette dispenserwhich may be stamped from sheet material, such as sheet metal and isadapted to be placed at convenient locations within an automobile andthe like, as on an arm extending from the steering post of theautomobile.

The device illustrated comprises a generally U- shaped housing ll havinginturned legs l2 to provide a channel for receiving a box-like tray ordrawer I3. The side walls of the housing preferably converge slightlytoward their free ends to tightly hold the drawer. 'The bottom l4 oftray l3 rides on the legs l2 and forms the bottom of the dispenser. Thishousing may be eliminated if a similar housing is formed in a wall inwhich the device is to be carried.

The side walls of the drawer l3 are illustrated as of less height thanthe housing side walls to reduce friction and save material. Front walll5, however, extends to the top of the housing in closed position of thedrawer in order to provide a neat uniform appearance and is spaced fromthe bottom of the drawer to provide an opening l6, through which a falsebottom or tray I1 is adapted to slide.

The housing may be stamped from a single piece of sheet material anddrawer may also. The front wallpiece may be separate if desired andmight fold rearwardly to indicate the height to which cigarettes may beplaced within the drawer and to provide a more complete closure. Therear wall of the drawer includes a forward piece 20 having a pair oftongues l8 and a catch l9 struck out therefrom. The ends of the tonguesare turned down to provide flanges M. The false bottom IT maybe formedfrom a single strip of sheet material approximately the width of thedrawer and having a downturned flange 22 at its rear end. This flange 22is provided witha pair of rectangular openings 23 slidingly. receivingthe tongues 18 (Figure 6). As will be seen in Figure 5, the twoflangesgzzl and zz will engage to limit outward movement of? the falsebottom I! relative to drawer l3. The sidesof the housing will hold thedrawer within until an added force is exerted whereupon the drawer iswithdrawn from the housing. The false bottom handle 24- thus serves bothto manipulate the cigarette dispensingfalse. bottom and also servestopull out the drawer upon additional effort.

Thefalse bottomlflange 22 is of such length as to; engage a. forwardinclined portion of catch [9 justprior to fullclosure of the falsebottom. The flange 22 slides up the inclined portion depressingthecatch. and forcing the flange upwardly. A sudden; dip 25 allows theflange to drop and thecatchto snap upwardly, resulting in a suddenjarring of the false bottom.

The forward end of the falsebottom if .has a groove: or; channel 26 forreceiving a single cigaretteonly,.and forwardly of-said groove the falsebottom is curled upon itself to form the handle 25. The spacebetween theunderside of groove 26, and the. main inclined surface of the falsebottom is partially filled asindicated at 28 to facilitate theretraction. of the part if into the casing; however as. bestseen inFigure 4, there is still a suddenengagement between the bottom I4 ofthe. drawer andthe undersurface of groove 26.

The operation of our dispenser is as follows: To; load the device; withcigarettes, the handle 24 is pulled until the false bottom flange 22engages flange 2| of thetongues IS; the drawer I3 is then pulled out byexerting an additional effort on the handle 24: and cigarettes indicatedby the reference numeral 2,9 inserted therein.

In operation'when the false bottom is pushed back into the drawer, thefalse bottom is jarred by the engagement of: the groove underside andthe bottom of: the drawer and by the false bottom flange 22 and catchI'9. Further agitation of the cigarettes may occur due to theundermining action of the false bottom sliding upwardly on tongues: l8.The end' result isthat a single cigarettewill roll into the groove asshown in Figure Zyafter the drawer is pushed back into the housing andthus a single cigarette will be dis-'- pensed' each'timethe false bottomis pulled open as shown in Figure 3; 7

It will be apparent that, for cleaning of the device, it is merelynecessary to pull the drawer entirely out of the housing.

The-assembly of the device might be as fol-: lows: After the falsebottom rear flange 22 and tongues la are engaged, the tongue and catchcarrying piece 20 may be inserted in the drawer and attached tothe'drawer as by 'welding indicated' by the reference numeral 30'. Thefront wallpiece l may then be fixed at the proper distance from thebottom of'the drawer. Struck out-"portions 31 of the-tongue carryingpiece 20 are coverednby-the rear. wall ofthe drawer and the front wallextends to the top wall of the drawer, so that in closed position of thedrawer and false bottom, the device is substantially completely closedabout the cigarettes.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this-invention and it-is; therefore, not the purposetoflimitthe'patentgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

, We claim as our invention:

1. A cigarette dispenser comprising a housing, a drawer, slidahle-intoand out of said housing, a false bottomfor. said drawer comprising aninclinedsheet of material slidably mounted in the drawer for receivingcigarettes thereon, said false bottom sheet having a cigarette receivinggroove at the forward lower end thereof, a tongue and a catch formed atthe upper rear of said drawer, saidtonguet engagingtheupper rear end ofsaid false bottom sheet for guiding the same into and out of said drawerand. limiting the movement thereof, a projection on said false bottomsheet engaging said drawer pr-iorto full closure of said false bottomfor jarring; a. cigarette into the groove, and an; abutment surface on:said false. bottom sheet engageable. by. said catch atfull closure ofsaid false bottom sheet, said catch also acting to jar said falsebottomsheet.

A cigarette; dispensercompr-ising a housing, a drawer slidablezinto andoutof said housing for receiving cigarettes; in its open. position, afalse bottom for said drawer comprising an inclined, strip Qfmaterialslidably mounted in the drawer for receiving-.cigarettes: thereupon,said false bottom strip having a cigarette receiving groove. atthe-forward: lower end thereof and a depending flange: at the; rear end,a tongue extending inwardly from theaupper rear end of; said drawer andhaving a. lateral projection at the end thereof, said fiangeifqrmed.attthe rear end ofsaid false bottom strip having an opening therein forreceiving, said tongue slidingly' therethrough, said false bottom;flange and tongue projection engagingto limit opening movement of saidfalsebottom; a. catchfjormed at the upper rear end of said draweriandengaging said false bottom. flange: just; prior to full closure of saidfalse bottom tojarithe sameto move a cigarette into said groove; and; asprojection on. said false bottom strip engagingrsaidiidrawer just priorto full closure ofsaid: false bottom. to further agitate said"cigarettes.

3. A cigarette dispenser comprising a housing; a drawer slidableintotandt out of said housing for receiving cigarettes. in"its openposition, a false bot-tom; fOT'TSaidf drawer comprising an inclined'strip: of material slidably mounted in the drawer for receivingcigarettes thereupon, saidfalsebottom strip having a cigarette receivinggroove at the forward lower 'end thereof and a depending flange attherea'r'end", a tongue ex tending inward-lyfrom'the upper rear end ofsaid drawer and? having alateralprojection'a't the end thereof;theflfange formed at the end of said false bottom strip having anopening therein for re; ceiving said tongue 'slidinglytherethrciugh,said false bottom flange and tongue projection en gaging to limitopening: movement of said falsebottom, and a catch formed 'atthe upperrear end of said drawer andengaging said false bottom flangejustpnior tofulTclosure of said false bottom to jar the same to move a:ci'gartte'into' saidgrooveii 4. A cigarette dispenser comprising achannel shaped housing, a drawer slidable in said housing, a back memberfor said drawer having a central catch and a pir of tongues struck outtherefrom, said tongues having laterally projecting flanges at the freeends thereof, a false bottom formed from a single sheet and including adownturned flange at the rear end thereof having openings thereinslidingly receiving said tongues and a cigarette receiving groove at theforward end thereof, said flanges of said tongues and false bottomengaging to limit the relative movement of said false bottom and drawer,whereupon when said false bottom is pulled further said drawer is pulledfrom said housing for refilling with cigarettes or cleansing thereof,said false bottom having a projection engaging said drawer just prior tofull closure to jar a cigarette into said groove, and said catch beingengageable with said downturned flange to retain said false bottom inclosed position and also jarring said false bottom for further agitationof the cigarettes thereupon.

5. A cigarette dispenser comprising a channel shaped housing, a drawerslidable in said housing, a back member for said drawer having a tonguestruck out therefrom to project into the interior of said drawer, saidtongue having a laterally projecting flange at the free end thereof, afalse bottom longitudinally slidable in said drawer and including aflange at the rear end thereof having an opening therein slidinglyreceiving said tongue and a cigarette receiving groove at the forwardend thereof, said flange of said tongue and said flange of the falsebottom engaging to limit the relative movement of said false bottom anddrawer, whereupon when said false bottom is pulled further said draweris pulled from said housing for refilling with cigarettes or cleansingthereof.

6. A cigarette dispenser comprising a channel shaped housing, a drawerslidable in said housing, a back member for said drawer providing acentral catch and a pair of tongues, said tongues having downturnedflanges at the free ends thereof, a false bottom for said drawerlongitudinally movable therein and including a downturned flange at therear end thereof having openings therein slidingly receiving saidtongues and a cigarette receiving groove at the forward end thereof,said groove being exposed by initial movement of said false bottomrelative to said drawer, said catch engaging said downturned flange ofsaid false bottom to yieldingly retain said false bottom within saiddrawer, said flanges of said tongues and false bottom engaging to limitthe relative movement of said false bottom and drawer, whereupon whensaid false bottom is pulled further said drawer is pulled from said 6housing for refilling with cigarettes or cleansing thereof.

7. A cigarette dispenser comprising a channel "raped housing, a drawerslidable in said housing, a back member for said drawer providing acentral catch and a pair of tongues, said tongues having downturnedflanges at the free ends thereof, a false bottom for said drawerincluding a downturned flange at the rear end thereof having openingstherein slidingly receiving said tongues and a cigarette receivinggroove at the forward end thereof, said flanges of said tongues andfalse bottom engaging to limit the relative movement of said falsebottom and drawer, whereupon when said false bottom is pulled furthersaid drawer is pulled from said housing for refilling with cigarettes orcleansing thereof, and said catch serving to retain said false bottom inclosed position due to engagement with said false bottom flange and alsojarring said false bottom flange for moving a cigarette into said grooveupon full closure of said false bottom.

8. A device for dispensing generally cylindrical articles comprising acontainer having an apertured front wall, an article supporting traymovably mounted in said container for linear movement through saidaperture of the front wall, means on said tray for moving a singlearticle out of said container through said aperture, a tongue and acatch secured to said container and projecting into the interiorthereof, a projecting flange on said tray having an apertureproportioned to slidably receive said tongue, whereby said tongueimparts a guiding action to the movements of said tray, a lateralprojection on the free end of said tongue engageable with the aperturedefining portions of said flange to limit outward movement of said trayfrom said container, and an end portion of said catch constructed andarranged to frictionally engage said projecting flange to retain saidtray in its fully inserted position in said container.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said container is formedof thin walled metal and said tongue and said catch are formedintegrally with the back wall of said container.

EDWARD G. GANTNER. DAVID JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,183,279 Degenhardt May 16, 19161,584,234 Lewis May 11, 1926 2,299,835 Mayer Oct. 27, 1942

